The Vegas Golden Knights (38-28-4) wrap up a 3-game road trip when they face the Vancouver Canucks (32-28-9) Sunday at Rogers Arena. Puck drop is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET (ESPN+). Below, we look at the Golden Knights vs. Canucks odds and lines, and make our expert NHL picks, predictions and bets.
Vegas has rebounded from a rough patch to win 4 in a row. Albeit, only 1 was against a team over .500. VGK lit the lamp 19 times in those 4 games. The Golden Knights sit 1 point behind the Dallas Stars for the final wild-card spot in the West.
Vancouver dropped both ends of a home-and-home against the St. Louis Blues Monday and Wednesday. The Canucks are just 3-5-2 in their last 10. They’re now 8 points behind Dallas for that final spot with 13 games to go. This home-and-home series with Vegas will likely hold the Canucks’ playoff hopes in the balance.
- Money line: Golden Knights -103 (bet $103 to win $100) | Canucks -117 (bet $117 to win $100)
- Against the spread (ATS): Golden Knights -1.5 (+185) | Canucks +1.5 (-260)
- Over/Under (O/U): 5.5 (O: -130 | U: +105)
Golden Knights at Canucks projected goalies
Logan Thompson (7-4-0, 2.55 GAA, .921 SV%, 1 SO) vs. Thatcher Demko (28-20-5, 2.68 GAA, .916 SV%, 1 SO)
VGK starting tendy Robin Lehner has been cleared to play and activated from IR. He could possibly slide into net here, but the team wants to ride Thompson through this heated stretch. Thompson was 5-3 with a 2.73 GAA in March and stopped 26 of 28 Seattle Kraken shots in a 5-2 win Friday.
Demko has lost 7 of his last 9 starts, but it really hasn’t been on him. The Boston College product had a decent 3.02 GAA in March. He was peppered with 31.6 shots on goal per game during the month. Demko was victim to an ugly 7-4 road loss to the Golden Knights in November.
Golden Knights at Canucks odds, lines, picks and predictions
Prediction
Canucks 5, Golden Knights 4
Money line
It’s a little surprising to see Vegas as short dogs here on the road. That just highlights the urgency that Vancouver has on winning this game to stay in the playoff hunt.
Canucks C Bo Horvat left Wednesday’s game with a non-COVID illness, and he’s questionable to suit up Sunday.
The Canucks have to win both of these games vs. the Knights to have a shot at the playoffs. The home team has won each of the last three in this series.
Vancouver defends home ice today. Take the CANUCKS (-117).
Against the spread
There’s no value on the puck line, even though Vancouver is 40-29 ATS for the season.
The only scenario I would take a chance is on the alternate spread of Canucks -1.5 (+210). Vancouver has just 3 wins in the last 10, but all of them have been by more than one goal.
I just can’t recommend taking an aggressive puck line on a team with such recent futility. Caveat emptor – or PASS. Your choice.
Over/Under
The Over is 7-1 for Vegas in the last 8 instances with a day of rest. Similarly, it’s 4-0 in Vancouver’s last 4 instances of 3 days’ rest or more.
This will have to be a fast-paced shootout for Vancouver to keep the Golden Knights’ offensive inferno contained. LEAN OVER 5.5 (-130).